Editors Quote by William Faulkner
““Only Southerners have taken horsewhips and pistols to editors about the treatment or maltreatment of their manuscript. This--the actual pistols--was in the old days, of course, we no longer succumb to the impulse. But it is still there, within us.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Paris Review, 1969
Writers sometimes feel a fierce, almost violent urge to defend their work against criticism, reflecting deep personal investment.
In simple terms: Authors can be fiercely protective of their writing.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and channel passion constructively.
Themes
creativity
conflict
pride
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
literary
personal
When to use this quote
- literary criticism
- editing process
- publishing negotiations
Key Concepts
authorial identity
defensiveness
emotional intensity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle harsh feedback?
- What outlets help you express frustration health?
A Different Perspective
Passion can become aggression if unchecked.
![“I walked all around it [the Guggenheim Bilbao] and couldn't find one clear, clean shot. To make things worse, the weather was lousy. Nothing about this rang commercial money shot. In a situation like this there's only one thing to do: forget about pleasing editors, please yourself.” quote by Robert Polidori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/375/robert-polidori-55002_clean_i-walked-all-around-it-the-guggenheim-bi_9097.jpg)
